Shiv Narayan Jewellers Makes History Achieving 8 Guinness World Records

Shiv Narayan Jewellers Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad’s top legacy jewellery, has achieved 8 Guinness World Records™ Titles, becoming the first Indian jeweller in history to accomplish such a feat. To commemorate the occasion, a grand celebration attended by high profile dignitaries and celebrities unfolded at the breathtaking Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, the perfect venue to commend the Shiv Narayan’s rich legacy.

The grand event featured Bollywood’s fashion icon Disha Patani who strutted the ramp in one of Shiv Narayan's high jewellery pieces. Her ethereal presence not only showcased its intricacy but also the craftsmanship and its breathtaking elegance. The evening unfolded as a captivating showcase of fashion, glamour, and exquisite jewellery but the highlight of the event was the unprecedented ‘Experiential Zone’- an immersive experience of the record-breaking jewels themselves. The four zones, dedicated to each of the creations, exhibited the inspirations, innovation and nuances of the pieces.

The first of the four, The Ganesh Pendant, achieved the Guinness World Records™ Title for The Heaviest Pendant weighing in at 1011.150 grams & The Most Diamonds Set On A Pendant (11,472). A testament to exquisite craftsmanship, the handcrafted jewel took 6 ½ months to create.

Shiv Narayan Jewellers went on to break their own record: The Ram Darbar achieved the world record for The Heaviest Pendant at 1681.820 grams and The Most Diamonds Set On A Pendant with 54,666 diamonds. It also became The Heaviest Diamond Pendant exceptionally designed over 8 ½ months with diamonds inscribing Sri Ram (Lord Ram) even on the back.

The Satlada Necklace (The Seven Layer Necklace) is Shiv Narayan’s third award winning masterpiece. With 315 emeralds and 1971 fine diamonds, it now holds the records for The Most Emeralds Set On A Necklace and The Most Diamonds Set On A Necklace. The sourcing of the gemstones for this necklace alone took 2 ½ years and the piece was crafted over 5 ½ months. Paying homage to the ancient treasures of the Nizams, an integral part of Shiv Narayan's heritage, The Satlada Necklace is a resplendent creation exemplifying the dedication and attention invested in each piece.

Elevating luxury to new heights, Shiv Narayan Jewellers' The Magnifying Glass holds an impressive value of $108,346 making it The Most Expensive Magnifying Glass. Weighing 171.010 grams and embellished with Shiv Narayan’s signature emeralds and diamonds, this unparalleled masterpiece redefines the concept of opulence and elegance.

Expressing his elation and gratitude for this remarkable achievement, Mr. Tushar Agarwal, Managing Director - Shiv Narayan Jewellers Pvt Ltd, stated, "We are truly humbled to have achieved 8 Guinness World Records™ Titles. It is a huge advancement for the entire industry and we are truly grateful that our dedication, hard work and passion has been recognised at such a global level. We hope to continue to pioneer innovation in the industry and reach new heights."

As the Only Indian Jeweller To Have Achieved 8 Guinness World Records™ Titles, Shiv Narayan Jewellers have solidified their position at the top in the gem and jewellery industry. Shiv Narayan Jewellers Pvt Ltd is a prestigious vintage and royal jewellery brand specialising in emerald jewellery. The company was started by Seth Sri Shiv Narayan Ji, the head jeweller to Mir Osman Ali Khan, the VII Nizam of Hyderabad. Since then, the brand has created many masterpieces. Today, it is in the hands of Mr. Kamal Kishore Agarwal and Mr. Tushar Agarwal, the current Chairman and Managing Director of the company.

Memorials of World War II

With it being the week of Memorial Day, Collette wants to remind travelers that they'll be offering a special version of its "Memorials of World War II" tour in 2024 to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. On June 6th, 1944, 160,000 courageous Allied troops set out to liberate Europe from the Nazis, storming the beaches in Normandy, France.

An unforgettable journey of discovery and remembrance awaits travelers as they travel between London, Normandy and Paris on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. They'll explore London's connections to World War II during a city tour focused on The Blitz. Cross the English Channel, retracing the parallel journey the Allied troops took on June 6th, 1944. Have a chance to immerse themselves in the history of Normandy's D-Day Landing Beaches and visit the Normandy American Cemetery. Visit Saint-Mère-Église, the first French town liberated from the Nazis and learn about the brave paratroopers who parachuted into Normandy on the night of June 5–6, 1944.The journey concludes in Paris, the City of Light with a festive dinner cruise along the Seine River. There are plenty of departures remaining for the special edition tour, with dates ranging throughout 2024 from March 17 to October 11. Travelers can secure their spot on the "Memorials of World War II" tour for prices starting at $3,499.

"Collette's 'Memorials of World War II' tour is special," said Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, chief customer experience officer at Collette. "Throughout 2024, our travelers will have the opportunity to take this journey honoring the 80th anniversary of D-Day, traveling along the same paths as the near 160,000 Allied troops who battled for European freedom on June 6, 1944. The visit to Normandy is always an emotional one. It is such a moving experience to set foot on the same sand as so many heroes did that day."

As the longest-running tour operator in North America, Collette is the company travelers can trust. Leading with integrity, Collette's comprehensive travel protection plan, flexible tour pacing, and strong relationships within the travel space set it apart. The happiness of its travelers has been its roadmap since 1918 and today Collette offers over 160 tours to all seven continents and five distinct travel styles, including small group touring and river cruises. This third-generation family-owned business is dedicated to giving back in both local and global communities through its social responsibility platform. 

It's a good reminder to never forget the horrors of War, we must seek Global unity and cooperation above anything else, peace is more important than profit or pride.

2023 CAP Consumer Surveys

The most recent piracy landscape consumer surveys commissioned by the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) show that while piracy rates remain stable in many countries around Asia-Pacific, we have seen notable increases in piracy rates in Thailand and Taiwan, with a discernible increase also in Hong Kong. Notably, rights holders face challenges in procuring effective and efficient site blocking in all three of these countries. These consumer surveys acknowledge site blocking as an effective tool to mitigate piracy harm.

For those countries that are implementing site blocking effectively, there continue to be demonstrable effects in behavioral change with 62% of consumers in Indonesia and 64% in Malaysia indicating that they have changed their viewing habits as a result of pirate sites being blocked. Both of these countries have long-running, effective and efficient regulatory blocking regimes. In Singapore, one of the first countries in the region to allow rights holders to protect their content via the provision of judicial site blocking measures, it is notable that after almost ten years of this measure being in place, Singapore has the lowest percentage of consumer piracy in the region, with only 39% of consumers pirating. However there remains issues with the time and cost involved with obtaining site blocking orders in Singapore.

Encouragingly, the surveys show that regular site blocking not only stops consumers accessing pirated content online, but also drives them towards legitimate sources, with an average of 20% of consumers subscribing to paid services and an average of over 40% accessing legitimate free content services as a result of pirate sites being blocked. Furthermore, almost 50% of consumers around the region stated they would subscribe to legitimate paid online services if the content they wanted to watch was not available via a pirate source.

Awareness of the risks associated with online piracy also continues to grow, with at least 80% of consumers in every market around the region unequivocal that piracy has negative consequences. Consumers are aware that the perceived damage varies from job losses, impact on the creative industries and also the risk of malware infection on personal computers and devices.

In addition to consumers accessing pirate content via pirate streaming sites, apps or illicit streaming devices (ISDs), social media and messaging platforms providing access to pirated content continue to be a concern as one of the main sources of accessing pirate content. CAP is working with the major platforms across the region to address this issue.

Encouragingly, the survey also shows huge unmet potential as more than 60% of consumers across the region said they would subscribe to legitimate services if there was no pirate content available on social media and messaging platforms.

Matt Cheetham, General Manager of CAP, noted, "The evidence continues to show that site blocking, when implemented in an efficient and effective way, is an incredibly powerful tool to both stop online piracy, and direct consumers towards legitimate content." As with the 2022 survey, the data points towards an ongoing consumption of pirate content via social media and messaging platforms. However, Cheetham also noted, "The surveys also show the benefits of consumer education with a growing awareness amongst consumers of the negative consequences of piracy, particularly via illicit profiteering and malware."

This is the second time CAP's YouGov consumer surveys were undertaken across several countries at the same time. The surveys will continue to be repeated across the same countries annually, and in doing so, will continue to provide longitudinal analysis of consumer behavioral trends towards piracy and enforcement measures around the region.

About the Asia Video Industry Association

The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy through its Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry.

Move All Summer Long

Everybody, no matter their age, can benefit from daily physical activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), young children should be physically active throughout the day for growth and development. Despite the common misconception that children are in perpetual motion, the CDC reminds caregivers to encourage children to be active when they play.

"Physical activity is important because it is critical in assisting with gross motor development and helps support development in other areas," said Khy Sline from KinderCare Learning Center's education team. "Children thrive when we give them the tools to use their bodies and muscles in new ways and make mind-body connections."

Consider these five activities to encourage children to get moving.

Blow bubbles. Appealing to children from infancy on up, seeing bubbles floating around can encourage babies to reach out and try to grab them, building arm strength and coordination. Toddlers and older children can run around the patio or lawn chasing bubbles and watching them pop.

Build a tunnel. Whether indoors or out, made from furniture covered with sheets or cardboard boxes, tunnels encourage children to move over, under, around and through, which helps them explore new ways of moving while also building coordination and balance.

Play hide and seek. As they dash around trying to find the perfect hiding spot, children build spatial awareness, their understanding of where their bodies are in relation to other people and objects.

Play red light, green light. This classic game helps children build coordination – connecting the verbal instruction with the physical movement – while also teaching them impulse control, an essential executive function skill. Be sure to get creative with instructions and add variations like tip-toeing, crawling, hopping and more.

Walk the line. Draw a line on the ground using chalk outdoors or painter's tape indoors and encourage your children to walk along the line. This activity helps children improve balance and coordination. Get creative and add in a challenge by drawing a wavy or zig-zag line. Once your children get the hang of following the line, ask them to think of other ways to travel along that space, such as hopping on one foot or skipping.

For more ideas to encourage physical activity among children, visit kindercare.com.